Even though August is in full swing with summer heat and days at the pool, autumn — and Halloween — are already making themselves known. Already, the internet is flooded with spooky season content — whether it’s costume inspo or tips for planning your 2026 Halloweekend. And retailers are jumping on the bandwagon, too. From pumpkin decor and scarecrows at Michael’s to ceramic ghosts and black cats at Target, it’s clear that Halloween is well on its way. It’s only fitting, then, that Spirit Halloween — the undisputed king of Halloween — would announce its plans for 2026.Â
This year, Spirit Halloween hired a whopping 52,000 employees to staff 1,500 pop-up stores across the U.S. and Canada, according to a June 11, 2026 press release from Spirit Halloween. In addition to this record hiring season, Spirit Halloween is also rolling out a new collection of animatronic decor. These animatronic figures include a zombie raccoon, a forest witch, a carnival clown, and Michael Meyers himself, according to a June 18 press release.
“Fans’ love of Halloween continues to evolve and grow with each season,” Kym Sarkos, Executive Vice President at Spirit Halloween, said in the June 18 release. “This year’s animated lineup introduces new innovations like active response technology, plus must-have upgrades like Bluetooth, Outdoor Rated, and improvements in motorized movement we know fans will love to have in this year’s haunt.”
But when do the Spirit Halloween pop-ups open? Well, according to the brand’s website, some stores already have. Spirit Halloween’s original store in New Jersey opened on Aug. 1, and other locations across the country — including Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma — open Aug. 11. The rest of the retail locations are slated to open throughout August and September.Â
To check the opening date of stores near you, you can use Spirit Halloween’s online store browse feature. And, if visiting a Spirit Halloween in person isn’t possible for you, you can always shop its website, which is available year-round.Â